ReThink Forum
From Mission to Policy to Action: Aligning Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan with National Goals
11 Sep (Fri) Day 2 : 11:20 – 12:00
With the national 15th Five-Year Plan setting direction on energy transition, carbon reduction, and industrial transformation, and Hong Kong preparing its first Five-Year Plan, the key question is how ambition translates into delivery. This session explores how Hong Kong can align with national priorities while leveraging its strengths as an international financial, trade, maritime and aviation hub and to mobilise capital, support transition investments, and accelerate implementation across the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
Session Learnings:
How national priorities can inform Hong Kong’s emerging Five-Year Plan in practical, actionable ways
Post-Event Actions:
- Where Hong Kong can play a distinctive role in supporting national transition goals
- How public and private sectors can better align to enable implementation
- Identify the conditions needed to mobilise capital at scale
Speakers
Moderator
Christine Loh
Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Christine Loh
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment
Christine Loh is Chief Development Strategist at Institute for the Environment at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Scholar in Residence at Asia Society Hong Kong (2023-25). She serves on the boards of New Forests Pty Limited, and Towngas Smart Energy. She is a published author of many academic and popular works.
My Sustainability Goals for 2026:
To develop transdisciplinary studies with real world context.
Speaking at 2026 sessions:
Day 2
From Mission to Policy to Action: Aligning Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan with National Goals
Prof. Zhi Lu
Professor
Peking University / ShanShui Conservation Center
Prof. Zhi Lu
Peking University / ShanShui Conservation Center
Professor
Dr. Lu Zhi is a Boya Distinguished Professor at Peking University. She founded Peking University’s Center for Nature and Society, and Shan Shui Conservation Center. She also serves as the co-chair of the second global assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Dr. Lu’s research tackles critical sustainability issues in China, with a focus on finding practical solutions that promote coexistence between humans and nature. Her work encompasses the study of ecosystem services (forests and grasslands), the natural history and conservation of endangered species like giant pandas and snow leopards, and the development of community-led conservation strategies. She is particularly known for her innovative approach, which tests and implements conservation tools grounded in economic incentives, cultural values, and policy improvements, ensuring that local communities benefit from their conservation efforts. This work extends to both rural and urban settings.
Dr. Lu Zhi earned her undergraduate degree and Ph.D. from Peking University. She has been a visiting scholar at the National Institutes of Health , Harvard University and the Yale School of Forest and Environmental Studies (2001-2002).